The Bonner County Board of Commissioners voted Sept. 29 to end its previously declared emergency loss of access for Merritt Bridge in Priest River, following repairs to the “significant infrastructure failure” discovered in mid-August. The bridge, which connects Wisconsin Street to Dufort Road, was closed to truck traffic and had strict weight limits across its one open lane from Aug. 24 to Sept. 2.
The Idaho Transportation Department enlists a dive team every five years to conduct underwater inspections of the bridge, in addition to the county’s above-water inspections every other year. In August, Boise-based Marine Solutions discovered severe damage to two of Merritt Bridge’s pilings, potentially caused by construction or manufacturing issues or an impact by an unknown force, according to Bonner County Road and Bridge Director Jason Topp.
The Merritt Bridge in Priest River in winter. Photo by Cheri Berger Guinn
“One [pile] is completely sheared through; the other has some cracks in it,” said Topp at the Aug. 11 BOCC meeting.
The aging bridge was already in need of repairs, which are slated for 2027 using funds from a 2023 federal-aid bridge grant. Road and Bridge intends to wrap the pilings in an epoxy seal before applying a surface treatment, also epoxy, to strengthen the bridge supports. Though work on the overall renovations continues, discovery of the shorn pile necessitated immediate action. Divers dug about four feet into the riverbed to install and weld a metal jacket around the damaged pile, which was then filled with concrete.
“I just want to extend another ‘thank you’ to Emergency Management and Road and Bridge and all of ITD — all the contractors that were involved in helping to bring that to resolution in a matter of just a few weeks,” said Commissioner Brian Domke at the Sept. 29 meeting.
Following repairs and monitoring, the bridge is now open to all traffic and weight restrictions have been lifted.
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